Medicament dry powder inhaler dispensing device

ABSTRACT

An inhaler disc cartridge comprises a carrier disc with radially outwardly extending resilient fingers, each with a medicament powder dosage. A sealing disc and an indexing ring are bonded to the disc. A cam sequentially and manually deflects a selected finger causing it to snap against an anvil to release the dosage by momentum energy transfer. In other embodiments, a cassette includes a carrier substrate reel of deposited powder dosages with a dosage sealing tape. The substrate comprises a belt with a plurality of transversely extending triangular fingers, each finger tip with a dosage thereon. Each finger is snapped in sequence against an anvil while a clamp secures the belt as the fingers are deflected. The spring fingers are corrugated in one embodiment cooperating with an anvil having channels and a device for inducing agglomeration breakup air streams through the channels. Other embodiments are for impact deflection of a dosage carrying substrate in a cartridge or cassette against an anvil to release the dosages.

Of interest are co-pending application Ser. No. 08/661,213(PCT/US97/10162) entitled Inhaler Apparatus with Modified Surfaces forEnhanced Release of Dry Powders filed Jun. 10, 1996 in the name of Dattaet al., Inhaler Apparatus with an Electronic Means for Enhanced Releaseof Dry Powders Ser. No. 08/661,212 filed Jun. 10, 1996 in the name ofSun et al. (PCT/US97/10162), Ser. No. 08/932,489 (PCT/US98/19228)entitled Dry Powder Delivery System filed Sep. 18, 1997 in the name ofLeedom et al., Ser. No. 08/467,647 entitled Apparatus forElectrostatically Depositing and Retaining Materials Upon a Substratefiled Jun. 6, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No 5,669,973, Ser. No. 08/506,703entitled Inhaler Apparatus for Using a Tribo-Electric Charging Techniquefiled Jul. 25, 1995 now U.S. Pat. No. 5,642,727, Ser. No. 08/659,501entitled Methods and Apparatus for Electrostatically Depositing aMedicament Powder Upon Predefined Regions of a Substrate filed Jun. 6,1996 in the name of Pletcher et al. now U.S. Pat. No. 6,007,630, Ser.No. 09/095,246 entitled Dry Powder Deposition Process filed Jun. 10,1998 in the name of Poliniak et al. now U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,194, all ofthe foregoing being commonly owned; and Ser. No. 09/095,616 entitledPharmaceutical Product and Method of Making filed Jun. 10, 1998 in thename of Chrai et al. now U.S. Pat. No. 6,303,143, the latter applicationbeing commonly owned with the assignee of the aforementioned foregoingapplications and with the assignee of the present invention, and U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,714,007, 5,642,727, 5,669,973 commonly owned with theaforementioned foregoing applications. All of the aforementioned areincorporated by reference herein in their entirety.

This invention relates to inhalers for medicaments, and moreparticularly, to inhalers with arrangements for breaking up agglomeratesof dry powder.

In addition, of interest are PCT applications WO 90/13328 and WO93/09832. These latter applications disclose various inhaler embodimentsincluding impact release of medicament dosages. However, theseembodiments involve relatively complex camming and similar arrangementswhich are costly to implement. These latter applications are alsoincorporated by reference herein.

Dry powder inhalers are used as drug delivery devices for administeringpharmaceutical compounds to individuals. Some of these devices employ apharmaceutical powder deposited on a substrate surface and sealed with asealing layer. In other devices, the powder may be supplied in areservoir and then transferred to a dose carrier one dose at a time. Thesubstrate may be provided as a tape on a reel in cassettes or incartridges, for example. When the patient requires medication, the idealdry powder inhaler forms a fine particle cloud that is to be inhaled andthereby delivers a high respirable fraction of the stored dose deeplyinto the patients lungs. In most cases, the deep recesses of the lung isthe desired site for the drugs in the inhaled powder cloud.

This can be most efficiently achieved by:

1. Releasing a high fraction of the deposited drug and

2. Insuring that the powder cloud consists of individual particles orparticle aggregates between 1 μm and 5 μm.

As individual particles are reduced below 10 μm, both release andparticle aggregation become a serious hindrance to delivering a highrespirable fraction deeply into the patient's lungs.

A common problem addressed by various prior art inhaler apparatuses fordispensing dry powder medicaments is providing for a controlled reliablerelease of the medicament. The dry powder medicaments inhalers may beloaded with medicaments by filling techniques not involvingelectrostatics. In certain other implementations, the deposited powdertends to form agglomerated particles resulting in uncontrolled variationin the amount of medicament released. Several of the aforementionedapplications provide various solutions to this problem.

Numerous approaches have been taken in the design of dry powderinhalers. In some cases, the powder is released by impact of a substratepowder carrier, as disclosed in WO 93/09832. Of interest is an inhaleras disclosed in WO 90/13328.

In copending applications Ser. Nos. 661,213 and 661,212, indentations orraised surfaces are disclosed in the inhaler interior surfaces havingcontact with the medicament for inhalation, the surfaces minimizing thearea of contact between the medicament and the surfaces of the inhalerapparatus, promoting the release of the medicament from the inhaler.

When particles of medicament agglomerate, they impact the mouth andthroat rather than remain in the air flow for deposition in the lungs.One remedy is to provide tortuous channels in the inhalers to promotedeagglomeration. However, the medicament may be deposited along thechannels leading to inaccurate dosage dispensing. Agglomeration alsoresults in the inhaler tending to dispense the medicament inaccuratelyso that greater or lesser amounts are dispensed.

The small particle size, e.g., 2 μm to 7 μm, required for transport tothe lung presents a number of problems for release by the inhaler anddelivery to deep lung regions. As the particle size decreases, therelative bonding force between the particle and other objects increases.This applies to both particle-to-substrate bonding andparticle-to-particle bonding. As a result, particle aggregates becomemore tightly bound and individual particles more difficult to removefrom the substrate. Aggregation increases the effective size of the drugreleased and diminishes the respirable fraction. The increase inrelative particle-to-substrate bonding makes drug release more difficultand also decreases the respirable fraction.

Additional investigation using ultrasonic frequencies to agitate thesurfaces have been unsuccessful in removing particles below 10 μm from aplanar surface. There is a mismatch between the particle size and thewavelength of the substrate material in typical polymeric materials. Thewavelengths of the material are a large multiple of the dimensions ofthe particles and does not provide efficient energy coupling. Acousticfrequencies above 100 MHz would be required for particle resonance tooccur. Thus, either unrealistically high frequencies to minimizewavelength or high acoustic amplitudes to increase the forcedifferential across the small particles are required.

The present inventors recognize a need for a drug inhaler deliverysystem for dry powder pharmaceutically active ingredients for breakingup such particle aggregation should they form. They recognize a need fordelivery of microgram depositions in quantities ranging from about 10 μgto the milligram range with a delivery accuracy of about 10%.

A medicament powder delivery device according to the present inventioncomprises a carrier having at least a flexible portion on which portionis deposited a discrete medicament dosage and means for imparting anenergy pulse to the carrier flexible portion for deflecting the carrierportion and releasing the dosage from the deflected portion by momentumtransfer.

In one aspect, the means for imparting an energy pulse comprises meansfor flexing and snap releasing the flexed carrier portion.

In a further aspect, the carrier portion includes a finger resilientlyextending from a carrier base region, the means for imparting forflexing the finger relative to the base region.

In a further aspect, a body is included with a cavity for receiving thecarrier portion and the means for imparting including an anvil with abore therethrough fixed to the body in the cavity for receiving the snapreleased finger, the bore for receiving the released dosage, andincluding means for causing the finger to resiliently impact the anvilto rapidly decelerate the finger to provide the momentum transfer to thedosage.

In a further aspect, the dosage tends to form aggregates, the anvilincluding at least one channel, further including means coupled to thehousing for creating an air jet stream through the at least one channelto disintegrate aggregations of the dosage during the impact.

In a further aspect, the finger is corrugated.

In a still further aspect, the finger extends in a given direction fromthe base region, the finger having corrugations extending along thegiven direction.

The means for creating the jet stream may include a further resilientfinger overlying the carrier finger for initial resilient displacementcoincident with initial displacement of the carrier finger, thedisplaced fingers for snap release in a second displacement, the furtherfinger for creating the air stream during the second displacement.

In a further aspect, the further finger has a different spring constantthan the carrier finger so as to accelerate slower than the carrierfinger upon the snap release.

In a still further aspect, the carrier includes a first disc with aplurality of radially extending fingers, a dosage on each finger, andthe means for imparting comprises cam means for snap flexing a selectedfinger to release the dosage on the selected finger.

Index means are preferably included for indexing the selected finger toa medicament release position for snap flexing the selected finger bythe cam means.

The first disc may include a carrier disc with a plurality of firstfingers each carrying a dosage, a spacer disc overlying the carrier discwith a plurality of second fingers overlying and corresponding to thefirst fingers and a ring with index holes and a third plurality offingers over lying and corresponding to the first and second fingers,the spacer disc being bonded to the carrier and ring discs, the indexingmeans for selectively engaging the ring index holes.

Cam means are preferably provided for manually flexing the selectedfingers.

The cam means may flex the first and second fingers past the thirdfingers.

In a further aspect, the carrier comprises a belt portion with aplurality of fingers extending transversely from the belt portion, eachof the fingers having a separate dosage and arranged for selectiveresilient displacement relative to the belt portion.

In a still further aspect, drive means are included for displacing thebelt to increment the fingers sequentially to a dosage release position.

The means for imparting may include a clamp for clamping the beltportion adjacent to a given finger and a deflecting member forselectively flexing and snap releasing the selected given flexed fingerrelative to the belt portion.

The carrier may comprise an element, the dosage comprising a pluralityof discrete dosages in spaced relation on the element, the means forimparting including a carrier deflection member adjacent to the element,and means for momentarily bending and deflecting the element to momentumtransfer release a selected dosage from the element upon release of thedeflected element.

In a further aspect, means are included for selectively aligningsuccessive dosages on the element to the deflection member.

In a further aspect, a core member is included and rotatable about anaxis, the element comprising an array of fingers radially extending fromthe core member about the core member in a spiral about the axis, meansselectively align and deflect each the finger to snap release a selecteddosage from the selected finger by momentum transfer.

In a further aspect, the carrier comprises a spring finger for receivinga dosage and dosage substrate from a plurality of dosages and dosagesubstrates in a stack aligned one over another, and means are includedfor selectively placing successive dosages and dosage substrates on thecarrier, the means for imparting including means for snap deflectingsaid finger against an anvil.

IN THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a side elevation sectional view of an inhaler according to oneembodiment of the present invention with the inhaler housing open forreceiving a pharmaceutical powdered dosage carrying substrate cartridgewith the cartridge installed;

FIG. 2 is a plan sectional view of the inhaler of the embodiment of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a plan exploded view of the substrate cartridge for theembodiment of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3a is a fragmented sectional side elevation view of the assembledsubstrate cartridge of FIG. 3;

FIG. 3b is a fragmented sectional side elevation view of an alternateembodiment for the cartridge of FIG. 3a;

FIG. 4 is a side elevation view of a cam and lever employed in theembodiments of FIG. 1;

FIGS. 5-7 are side elevation sectional views of the inhaler of FIG. 1showing various stages of release of the deposited dry powdermedicament;

FIG. 8 is a diagrammatic side elevation view of a second embodiment ofan inhaler apparatus without the housing or operating mechanismillustrating the medicament carrying substrate and dosage thereon;

FIG. 9 is a plan view of a portion of the substrate of FIG. 14;

FIG. 10 is a schematic diagram of an actuator for use in deflecting thefingers in the embodiment of FIGS. 8 and 9;

FIG. 11 is diagrammatic perspective view in more detail of a dry powdersubstrate for use in different embodiments herein;

FIG. 12 is an isometric fragmented view of a further substrateembodiment according to the present invention for use with the substrateembodiment of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is a side elevation fragmented sectional view of a furtherembodiment of a substrate and medicament for use in the embodiment ofFIGS. 11 and 12;

FIG. 14 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a cassette embodiment foruse in an impact inhaler;

FIG. 14a is a side elevation sectional view of the substrate for use inthe embodiment of FIG. 14;

FIG. 15 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a second cassette embodimentfor use in an impact inhaler;

FIG. 15a is a side elevation sectional view of a portion of thesubstrate and the anvil used in the embodiment of FIG. 15;

FIG. 15b is a side elevation view similar to that of FIG. 15a but afterthe substrate is impacted;

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a spiral embodiment of animpact inhaler medicament dosage delivery system;

FIG. 17 is a diagrammatic isometric view of a second embodiment of aspiral impact inhaler medicament dosage delivery system;

FIG. 18 is an isometric diagrammatic view of a further embodiment of animpact inhaler medicament dosage delivery system employing stackeddosage packs;

FIG. 18a is a side sectional elevation view of the stack of packsemployed in the FIG. 18 embodiment;

FIG. 19 is an isometric diagrammatic view of a second embodiment of animpact inhaler medicament dosage delivery system employing stackedsubstrates and medicament dosages; and

FIG. 19a is a side sectional elevation view of the each substrate of thestack of dosage packs employed in the FIG. 19 embodiment.

Dry powder medicament particles forming unit dosages may be charged witha given polarity in a conventional charging mechanism such astribo-electric chargers, induction charging and so on. The particles aredeposited in controlled amounts on a substrate wherein the amount ofactive pharmaceutical ingredients deposited at each of a plurality oflocations on the substrate does not vary from a predetermined amount bymore than about 5%, for example.

Reference is made to application Ser. No. 09/095,246 entitled Dry PowderDeposition Process filed Jun. 10, 1998 in the name of Poliniak et al.,now U.S. Pat. No. 6,063,194, and Ser. No. 09/095,616 entitledPharmaceutical Product and Method of Making filed Jun. 10, 1998 in thename of Chrai et al., now U.S. Pat No. 6,303,143, noted in theintroductory portion and incorporated by reference herein in theirentirety. These applications disclose apparatus and processes forelectrostatically depositing pharmaceutically active ingredientmedicaments on a substrate including charging a dry powder medicamentand electrostatically attracting the charged powder particles to asubstrate. In particular, the medicament is deposited in controlledamounts at discrete locations on the substrate wherein the amountsdeposited do not vary from a predetermined amount by more than 5%, forexample. This process is preferred.

However, other processes for electrostatically depositing dry powdermedicaments on a substrate are also disclosed in the aforementionedcopending applications and patents noted in the introductory portion,all of which are incorporated by reference herein. Those processesdisclose electrostatically depositing controlled amounts of dry powdermedicaments on a substrate at discrete locations on the substrate.Variations of the disclosed processes herein may be employed to adaptthose processes to a metal or non-metallic substrate. The substrate maybe a tape, a strip or disk, for example, among other shaped substrateswith or without resilient fingers. Medicaments are deposited on thefingers as will be described below as employed in certain of the presentembodiments. Such depositions of dry powder particles on the varioussubstrates as described hereinbelow are within the skill of those ofordinary skill in this art.

Particle removal from surfaces tends to be more difficult as particlesize decreases. This is roughly a consequence of the adhesion forcedecreasing more slowly than the volume and surface area as a particle'ssize decreases. Since the volume and surface are generally related toremoving forces and deaggregation, these forces become increasinglydifficult to overcome as the particle size decreases.

Forces of adhesion and agglomeration caused by van der Waal's forceincrease as the area of contact between a particle and substrate orbetween two particles increase.

To obtain high respirable fractions, electrostatic deposition ispreferred to minimize particle-substrate and particle-particle contactwhich minimizes adhesive and agglomeration forces respectively. Also,similarly charged particles will repel one another to further minimizeagglomeration.

The substrates in the inhalers described below may be either metal,e.g., stainless steel, or non-metallic as known in this art and may beof any material suitable as a medicament substrate. Non-metallicsubstrates are selected to have the desired mechanical flexureproperties in certain of the described embodiments, for use in thedisclosed impact arrangements. The selection of a substrate materialdepends upon a given implementation as discussed later herein inconnection with the various embodiments.

To effectively form a powder cloud for inhalation, the rudimentaryparticle must generally be below about 6 μm and large agglomeratesdisrupted if they form. For low dosages, sufficiently sparse drug layerscan be deposited such that particle-particle interaction is minimal orthe agglomerates that form are sufficiently small to reach the targetedregion of the respiratory track.

For higher dosages of drugs, aggregates will form on the substrate.These aggregates can be disrupted by the application of energy duringthe process of dislodging the drug and/or through the exposure of thereleased aggregates to a sufficiently high gas velocity. The gas exertsa differential force across the aggregates due to differences inaerodynamic drag. These differences can arise due to either a gradientin the gas velocity or geometrical differences across the aggregate.

In FIG. 1, inhaler apparatus 60 includes a housing 62 defining a chamber54 and a dispensing chamber 54′. A battery 64, a motor 66 energizedselectively by the battery through a switch not shown, and a fan belt 68driven about axis 69 by the motor 66 are located within the chamber 54.A manually operated lever 70 with a cam 71 is rotatably secured to thehousing 62. The lever 70 and cam 71 pass through the chamber dispensing54′. Lever 70 rotates about axis 73 (FIG. 7) and passes through thechamber 54. The lever has a manually operated knob 70′, FIG. 2. The cam71 is integral and one piece with the lever 70 which may be moldedthermoplastic. The cam 71 is located within the chamber 54.

In FIG. 4, the cam 71 has a slot 56 and an ingress opening 58. Opening58 comprises two surfaces 59 and 59′ spaced at 90° and symmetricalrelative to the plane of the slot 56. Opening 58 has its normalquiescent position as shown in FIG. 1 with the slot horizontal and thesurfaces 59 and 59′ each 45° to the horizontal.

The housing 62, FIG. 1, is preferably a clam shell comprising two halves62′ and 62″ hinged at one end with a preferably living hinge and ismolded one piece thermoplastic. The housing includes an integral onepiece molded mouthpiece 72 attached to lower half 62″. The mouthpiece 72has an exit port 74 in fluid communication with the dispensing chamber54′ through opening 55. A support 76 is in the dispensing chamber 54′. Amanually operated indexing device 78 is at the housing front. Theindexing device 78 includes a knob 80 external chamber 54′ and an indexwheel 82 in the chamber 54′ adjacent to the support 76. The index wheel82 is rotatably secured to the housing 62 half 62″ and includes anannular array of angularly spaced indexing pins 84. An optionalthermoplastic member 86 is cantilevered from the support 76 in the drugdispensing chamber 54′, FIGS. 1 and 2. The member 86 may be flat orarcuate. If flat it is resilient. If arcuate it may be rigid and curvesdownwardly as shown, FIG. 5. The member 86 may be made of othermaterials if desired.

The mouthpiece 72 has a dispensing chamber 88 in fluid communicationwith the chamber 54′ through the opening 55. The chamber 88 is fluidcoupled through a channel 90 to air inlet port 92. Air flow actuatedbutterfly valves 94 are in channel 90 and chamber 88. The housingincludes a spindle 96 for receiving a drug delivery disc substrateassembly 98. The received disc 98 is rotated about the spindle 96 by theindexing device 78.

The substrate disc assembly 98, FIGS. 3 and 3a, forms a dosagecartridge. Assembly 98 comprises a multilayer circular disc including aspring metal, for example, leaf spring, dosage carrying disc 100. Thedisc 100 has an annular array of radially outwardly extending leafspring fingers 102 which are resilient in a direction normal to theplane of the disc 100. A medicament dosage 104 as described previouslyhereinabove is deposited as described on a broad surface of each of thedosage carrier fingers 102 at their extended end region. The disc 100has a central opening 106 for receiving the spindle 96, FIGS. 1 and 2.

Overlying the disc 100 is a spacer (or sealing layer) disc 108. Disc 108serves to separate the substrate disc 100 from overlying sealing ring114. In the alternative, the disc 108 may also serve as a sealing layer.Disc 108 may be spring metal or thermoplastic and has holes 110 in thisembodiment for receiving therein the respective dosages 104 on the disc100.

In the sealing layer embodiment, the substrate disc 100 has pockets eachfor receiving a corresponding discrete dosage. The disc 108 is planarand overlies the disc 100. This is shown, for example in FIG. 3b. InFIG. 3b, disc 100′ comprises spring fingers 102′ each having a dosagereceiving dimple or pocket 103′. A separate discrete medicament dosage104′ is in the pocket 103′. The sealing disc 108′ has openings 110 atthe pocket 103′ for spacing the dosage 104′ from the ring 114′ finger118′. The disc 108′ seals the dosage and is generally planar. When thedisc 108′ is removed from the disc 100′ to release the dosage, thedosage 104′ remains in place in the pocket 103 rather than possiblyremoved with the sealing disc 108′ spaced from the dosage.

Disc 108, FIG. 3, also has a central opening and fingers 112corresponding to and overlying the respective opening 106 and fingers102 of disc 100. Disc 108 bonds the disc 100 thereto employing aconventional bonding agent for this purpose.

An indexing and sealing ring 114 overlies the disc 108 annularperipheral region. Ring 114 has a larger diameter than discs 100 and 108so that an annular portion 116 extends radially outwardly of theunderlying juxtaposed fingers 102 and 112 of the respective discs 100and 108. A plurality of radially inwardly extending fingers 118 overlythe outer peripheral ends of the underlying fingers 102 and 112 ofrespective discs 100 and 108. A circular array of disc indexingapertures 120 are in the ring 114 radially outwardly of the fingers 118.The apertures 120 selectively engage the indexing pins 84 of theindexing device 78, FIG. 1, one at a time.

The discs 100, 108 and the fingers 118 of ring 114 are bonded togetherin a laminated structure by a conventional adhesive bonding agentforming the cartridge disc assembly 98.

Means are provided for selectively placing and aligning successivedosages on an element to a deflection member, for example, such as byusing indexing device 78, FIG. 1, indexing pins 84 which selectivelyengage apertures 120 of ring 114 in the received disc assembly 98 bymanual rotation of the knob 80. The pins 84 place an overlying set offingers 102, 112 and 118 of the assembly 98 aligned with and overlyingthe member 86. The ring 114 peripheral region 116 with the holes 120 areover the support 76 and member 86. The spindle 96 receives the discassembly 98 at opening 106.

In operation, apparatus 60 provides a drug removal method that impartsan energy pulse for momentum transfer to the deposited powder through animpact mechanism for both low and high dosages. The disc assembly 98 isplaced in operative position, FIG. 1, and the housing 62 chamber 54 isthen closed, FIG. 5. In this position, the cam 71 surfaces 59 and 59′are each 45° to the plane of the assembly 98 which passes through theslot 56. When a switch, not shown, is activated, the motor 66 operatesthe fan 68. This starts an air flow through the channel 90 via inputport 92 and exits port 74 opening the butterfly valves 94.

The extended tips of the fingers 102 and 112 may overlie the support 76and also overlie the member 86 therebelow. The ring 114 is lowermostwith the dosage facing downwardly toward the opening 55. In thisorientation, the other fingers 112 and 102 are over the ring fingers 118with the dosage finger 102 uppermost. Means are provided for flexing afinger relative to the base region and snap releasing the flexed fingerrelative to the base region for imparting the energy pulse noted above.For example, lever 70 and cam 71 are used to flex the fingers whereinlever 70 is manually rotated rotating the cam 71, forming a cam means,in the directions of the arrows in the sequence from FIG. 5 to FIG. 7.The cam 71 grips one set of aligned overlying fingers 102 and 112 of thedisc assembly 98 that is aligned therewith and with the member 86.

As the cam 71 rotates, it also rotates and bends the aligned fingers 102and 112, but not the ring 114 or its fingers, on the support 76. Thedownward flexing of the disc assembly 98 by the cam 71 flexes the twofingers 102 and 112 downwardly. These fingers then flex downwardly thealigned ring 114 finger 118 and the member 86, FIG. 5.

The member 86 assists in optimizing the shearing action between the ring114 and the fingers 102 and 112.

This action bends the flat resilient member 86 and the aligned fingersaccordingly relative to the support 76 as shown, FIG. 5. In thealternative, the member 86 may be rigid. The disc 98 fingers are bentdownwardly from the upper plane surface of the support 76 and the planeof disc 98, causing the aligned fingers 102 and 112 to break their bondswith each other by a relative sliding shearing action and to break thebond between disc 112 and ring 114 by the relative shear sliding causedby the bending action. The pin 84 keeps the ring 118 periphery 116secured to the support 76 as the cam 71 rotates.

In FIG. 6, as the fingers 102 and 112 continue to rotate in response torotation of the cam 71, the fingers 102 and 112 snap free of the bondsand slide over and past the fingers 118 of the ring 114 and the member86. The spacer disc 108 retains the selected dosage 104 in place on thecorresponding finger 102 as the mating ring finger 118 slides over thespacer disc 108. The resilient retention of the tips of the fingers 102and 112 overlapping the member 86 and ring 114 finger creates a snapaction of the fingers as the fingers rotate in response to furtherrotation of the cam 71, FIG. 6.

This snap action accelerates the substrate finger 102 with the dosage104 against the bottom surface of the dispensing chamber 54′ whichserves as an anvil about opening 55. This creates a large impact forceand rapid deceleration of the selected dosage finger 102. The momentumof the medicament during deceleration supplies energy to free the dosagefrom the surface 109 of the finger 102 upon the impact of the finger 102with the anvil formed by the chamber 54′ bottom surface. This momentumenergy pulse causes the dosage medicament powder to be released from thedisc 100. The dosage is discharged at the mouthpiece 72 port 74 as apowder cloud through the discharge opening 55. The valves 94automatically open in response to an inhalation bolus and the concurrentair flow caused by the fan 68. The user inhales the freed powderdischarged from the mouthpiece. The air inlet port 92 permits theinhaled air to draw an airstream in the direction of the arrows at theinlet port 92 through the mouthpiece 72.

The cam opening 58, FIG. 4, permits the cam 71 to rotate while flexingthe fingers 102 and 112 at the slot 56. The particles readily releasefrom the carrier substrate to provide the anticipated dosage.

In FIG. 7, manual rotation of the cam 70 in the reverse directionreturns the fingers to the disc assembly 98 plane position. The alignedring finger 118 acts as a resilient stop and positions the fingers 102and 112 in the quiescent spent position below the fingers 118 of thering 114. The user may now index the next dosage for use in the nextusage period at the support 76.

In the alternative, the member 86 may be rigid and arcuate having theshape as shown in FIG. 5. This arcuate shape assists in the relativeshearing action of the fingers as they slide over the member 86. In thealternative, the member 86 may be omitted.

Thus, drug removal results by a momentum transfer mechanism thatdisrupts the drug-substrate/carrier and particle to particle bonds.Enhanced drug release is provided for the particles.

In FIGS. 8-10, further means are shown for flexing the fingers relativeto the base region form imparting an energy pulse to the dosage forreleasing the dosage from the finger by momentum transfer. For example,in an alternative embodiment, inhaler apparatus 122 (the housing anddrive mechanism not being shown), includes a drive means for displacinga belt portion to increment the fingers, for example, such as a drivegear and motor (not shown) for rotating a reel 124 of a preferably metaldosage carrier substrate 126 carrying a medicament dosage 128 and sealedwith a sealing tape 130. A sealing tape take-up reel 132, also driven bya drive gear and the motor, removes the sealing tape 130 from thesubstrate 126 and dosage 128 as the substrate is removed from the reel124. A substrate take-up reel 134, driven by a further drive gear andthe motor (not shown), removes the substrate from the reel 124. Thereels may be part of a cartridge or cassette (the housing of which isnot shown). The drive gears and circuitry for operating this system neednot be shown because they are within the skill of those of ordinaryskill.

In FIG. 9, the substrate 126 comprises a plurality of trapezoidal (or inthe alternative triangular) fingers 136 and a continuous longitudinalextending belt 138. The dosage 128 is deposited on the free ends of thecarrier fingers 136. The carrier substrate 126 preferably comprise metalleaf spring material. The fingers 136 extend transversely from the belt138.

A clamp and dosage removing assembly 140 receives the substrate 126 anda selected dosage 128. The assembly 140 includes a clamp 141 forclamping the belt 138 next adjacent to the finger 136′ in the assembly140. The clamp 141 may comprise a slotted structure for receiving thebelt 138 and prevent the belt 138 in the clamp 141 from displacing in adirection normal to the substrate (and normal to the drawing paper inFIG. 9).

The clamping assembly 140 includes an actuator 142, FIG. 9. The actuatorincludes a drive 143 which selectively rotates a pin 144 whose tip 144′underlies the tip of the finger 136′ located within the clamp assembly140. The pin 144 may also underlie the dosage 128′ on the finger 136′.As the pin 144 is rotated, FIG. 10, it also rotates the finger 136′ tipand the associated dosage 128′. As the pin 144 rotates eventually itwill release the finger 136′ because they rotate in opposite directions143 and 143′ (The rotated finger and pin being shown in phantom). Thisrelative rotation permits the finger 136′ when released from the pin 144to snap back to its quiescent position shown in solid line. Thissnapping action causes the dosage to be displaced from the substrate bymomentum transfer. While the dosage 128 is shown on a side of the finger136 opposite the pin 144 by way of illustration, they may be on the sameside in the alternative.

FIG. 12 illustrates an alternative carrier substrate 131 which is formedof corrugated metal leaf spring with the corrugations running along thelength of the fingers of the substrate such as the substrate 126, FIG.9, for example, or the fingers of the disc substrate 100, FIGS. 3 and3a. The substrate is made stiffer by the corrugations without increasingthe mass of the substrate. This increases the substrate acceleration fora corresponding smaller displacement of the finger. When the fingers 136of FIG. 8, when corrugated, snap, they snap with increased accelerationover a shorter distance which further enhances the momentum energytransfer discharge of the dosage free of the substrate. The same occurswith the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 3a.

In addition, in FIG. 12, further means for imparting an energy pulse maybe provided. For example, a cylindrical hollow core preferably metalanvil 133 having a central opening 135 is positioned to receive thereturning snapped finger acting as a stop for the finger in its normalquiescent position. The anvil 133, for example, in FIG. 1, may beattached to housing half 62″ over opening 55. For example, the anvil 133may be a molded integral portion of the housing half 62″. The anvil 133central opening 135 receives the released dosage from the substrate anddisperses the particles into a cloud due to the momentum transferforces. When the corrugated snapped finger substrate 131 impacts theanvil 133, FIG. 12, the dosage is flung free to the substrate as adispersed particle cloud 137.

Means may be provided for creating an air jet stream through a channelto disintegrate aggregations. For example, the anvil 133 may haveconduits 139 or channels interior to the opening 135 therethrough. Whena person inhales, the breath bolus creates an air stream 146 througheach of the conduits 139 which help break up agglomerates of the drugparticles. This is particularly useful for large dosage deposits.

In FIG. 11, an alternative embodiment, means for flexing a finger, forsnap releasing a finger and for imparting an energy pulse, for example,employing a corrugate finger, includes a corrugated preferably metalstainless steel leaf spring finger 150 extending from a base region notshown, for example, on a disc dosage carrier substrate as describedpreviously. An overlying second resilient spring finger 152 also extendsfrom the base region. The finger 152 is flat with no openingstherethrough. The finger 152 is of different material than finger 150and has less resiliency than finger 150,i.e., is not as stiff and,therefore, accelerates from a bent position at a slower rate than thefinger 150 for a given deflection.

The finger 152 extends for the length of finger 150 and preferablyoverlies the entire finger 150. A channel member 154 defines a channelregion 156 which receives the fingers 150 and 152 in their normalquiescent position (not shown in this figure) and flexed configuration.This quiescent position is parallel to the member 154 bottom wall 158 atthe bottom of the channel region 156. Wall 158 has a through opening 159to permit excess flow of air created by the finger 150 to exit thechannel region when the flexed finger 150 returns to the flat state.This opening is then covered by the spring finger 150 when it returns toits quiescent position.

Also anvil 160 is located at the channel region bottom and secured towall 158. Anvil 160 may be similar to the anvil 133 as described abovein connection with FIG. 12.

An actuating pin 160 is rotated in direction 162 by a drive 164. The pin160 passes through a slot 165 in the channel member 154 rear wall 166.The finger 152 has a spring constant different than that of the finger150. This different spring constant is such that finger 150 snaps backto its original quiescent position at a higher acceleration rate thanfinger 152.

In operation, the pin 160 is selectively rotated in direction 162. Thetip of the pin 160 (or other shaped element) is beneath the springfingers 150 and 152, or in the alternative, beneath just finger 150 atits end tip region. As the pin is rotated upwardly in direction 162 thefingers 150 and 152 are flexed upwardly bending them about a pivot atwhich the fingers are secured to a base member (not shown).

The corrugated finger 150 is stiffer than finger 152 and accelerates ata higher rate, hitting the anvil 160 first. The slower moving finger 152lags the finger 150 during the return motion to the quiescent state. Thefinger 152 acts as an air pump within the channel region 156 whichclosely receives the finger 152 and creates an air flow toward the anvil160. This air flow creates air streams through the apertures 160′ in theanvil to break up aggregations of the powder dosage. This action insuresthat the dosage is in proper particle size format when inhaledmaximizing its effectiveness. In FIG. 11 it should be appreciated thatthe dosage is on the underside of the corrugated finger 150 and is notshown. The spring 150 causes its created air flow to flow through theopening 159.

The corrugated springs may form stand alone components or joinedtogether by or formed as a tape or formed into a pin wheel or disc forpurposes of advancing dosages into an inhalation chamber. Once in thechamber, the deflected spring is released so that the drug isaccelerated and leads the advancing spring end. At the peak velocity,the free end of the spring strikes the rigid anvil 160 and is rapidlydecelerated. The impact with the anvil 160 and the rapid decelerationresult in forces sufficiently high to release the individual andaggregate drug particles from the spring by momentum transfer forming apowder cloud. Aggregate particles are disrupted once they leave thesubstrate by the jets of gas through which the dislodged particles mustpass. Due to rapid motion of the aggregates through the jets, a timedjet is provided that represents only a fraction of the inhaled bolus.This permits aggregate disruption without disruption to the patient'sbreathing pattern.

In a further embodiment, in the alternative, means for flexing a finger,for snap releasing a finger and for imparting an energy pulse, forexample whereby corrugations in the region of the deposited dosage maybe replaced with cupped shaped substrates, such as illustrated byfingers 102′, FIG. 3b, for example, provide the desired stiffness andflexibility in a manner similar to that of the corrugated substrate.This configuration provides additional stiffness without increasing themass and results in more rapid deceleration and improved drug release.This provides the desired energy pulse to the substrate to release thedrug rapidly.

In the alternative, means for creating an air jet stream may include apiston, not shown, which may receive the impact of the spring 152 tocreate an air flow through the anvil 160 apertures 160′.

In FIG. 13, a corrugated substrate 150′ has pockets 151 in each of whichis disposed a medicament powder dosage 153. A sealing tape 155 seals thedosages in the pockets 151. The sealing tape must then be selectivelyremoved prior to release of the dosage. The tape does not contact thedosage so as to not remove any of the dosage when the tape is removed.

It should be understood that the transfer of the dosages in the variousembodiments is by imparting an energy pulse to the powder on the carriersubstrate by deflecting the carrier substrate and the subsequent rapiddeceleration of the substrate. Upon resilient return of the deflectedsubstrate, it impacts a stationary anvil or its equivalent imparting amomentum or inertial energy pulse to the moving dosage. This energypulse transfers the dosage by way of its momentum energy induced whenits support substrate rapidly decelerates upon impact with a stationaryobject.

This is to be distinguished from impact transfer in the prior artattributed to shock energy imparted to a relatively stationarysubstrate. The impact shock waves travel through the substrate to theparticles thereon, releasing the particles by a direct impact force onthe stationary particles. This is different than momentum transfer inwhich the momentum inertial energy in the moving dosage is whatseparates the dosage from the rapidly decelerating carrier substrate. Incontrast, shock waves impart motion to the otherwise stationary powdercarried on the substrate. The shock waves incident on the powder impelthe powder from the carrier substrate.

The separation mechanism forces are different in the two arrangements.One is an impelling force similar to a golf club hitting a stationaryball and the other is inertial wherein the moving object tends to remainin motion when its carrier suddenly ceases motion as in a catapult.

In FIG. 14, means for flexing a finger, for snap releasing a finger andfor imparting an energy pulse, for example in a further embodiment of acassette for a tape substrate is shown. The cassette 170, dashed lines,contains three reels 172, 174 and 176. Reel 176 stores a coil 178 of adosage carrier substrate 180 covered with a sealing tape 182. Sealingtape 182 seals the medicament dosages 194 in blisters 195, FIG. 14a,formed in the substrate 180. Reel 174 takes up the sealing tape 182 intoa coil, removing it from the substrate 180 exposing the dosage 194. Reel172 takes up the substrate 180 after the dosages 194 are removed.

A hollow mouthpiece 184 for the inhaler (the remainder of which is notshown) is aligned with the dosage 194 to be dispensed. The mouthpiece184 is adjacent to anvil 197. The anvil 197 is a flat metal plate withan aperture 199 for passing the dosage 194 therethrough. The anvil 197is next to the uncovered substrate 180 and dosage 194 to be dispensed,but spaced slightly therefrom. The inhaler includes a reel drive 186 foroperating the reels 172, 174 and 176.

An impact mechanism 188 includes a cantilevered spring 190 driven by aspring deflection drive 192. The drive 192 may be a rotating pin orelement as discussed above in the embodiments of FIG. 10 or 11. A powderdosage 194 deposited by a deposition technique as disclosed, forexample, in the aforementioned applications and patents in theintroductory portion is on the carrier substrate 180 blister 195 at adose release position 191 aligned with the spring 190. The spring 190has an aperture 193 for receiving and seating the blister 195 therein.The aperture 193 aligns the dosage 194 at the anvil aperture 199.

Drive 192 deflects the spring 190 and carrier substrate which impactsthe dosage carrying substrate 180 against the anvil 197. The impactedsubstrate 180 imparts a momentum transfer motion to the dosage 194. Thisaction releases the dosage into a powder cloud upon impact of thesubstrate with the anvil. The cloud is inhaled by the user via themouthpiece 184.

In FIG. 15, means for flexing a finger, for snap releasing a finger andfor imparting an energy pulse, for example, embodied in a reel drive anddeflection drive (not shown) as described in connection with FIG. 14 isalso employed. Most of the elements in FIG. 15 are the same or similarto those in FIG. 14. The difference is that the substrate 180′ has ablister pocket 195′, FIG. 15a, for receiving a dosage 194′ surrounded byan annular depression 189. The sealing tape 187 has a score over eachblister pocket 195′. The anvil 177 is a flat plate with an annular outerdepending ring rib 179 that mates in the depression 189. The anvil has acentral aperture 181 for receiving the dosage therethrough. As a result,the sealing tape rides directly on and over the anvil 177 and the dosagecarrier substrates rides directly on and over the spring 190′. Thesealing tape 187 and substrate 180′ are coiled and taken up in a take-uprewind reel 172′. In FIG. 14, the reel 172 only takes up and coils thesubstrate 180.

In operation, during an index cycle, the web of the carrier substrate,dosage and sealing tape is advanced. The blister pocket 195′ is insertedinto the leaf spring 190′ aperture 193′, loaded and fired against theanvil 177. The anvil 177 outer ring rib 179 forces the cover sealingtape 187 to rupture along the score 185, FIG. 15b, and be pulled intothe outer ring depression 189 of the dosage substrate exposing thepowdered dosage 194′. The spring 190′ continues in its travel and theimpact with the anvil 177 releases the dosage 194′, FIG. 15b, from thesubstrate 180′.

In FIG. 16, means for flexing a finger, for snap releasing a finger andfor imparting an energy pulse, for example, is embodied in a cartridge196, which is employed with an inhaler (not shown). The cartridgecomprises a central core 198 and a spiral array of cantilevered springfingers 200. Included is a core member drive means for selectivelyrotating the core about an axis to locate each finger at a given angularposition about the axis. The fingers 200 extend radially outwardly fromthe core 198 and may be molded thermoplastic or metal. Each finger 200includes a deposited medicament powder dosage 202. The dosages aredeposited in any known technique as discussed hereinabove. The dosagesare sealed with a sealing tape 204. The dosages may be deposited in apocket in the finger dosage carrier substrate or the sealing tape mayhave performed pockets for receiving the dosage so there is no contactof the tape with the powdered dosage. The tape 204 is removed by reel205 with a reel take-up drive (not shown) selectively exposing thedosages one at a time as they are to be dispensed.

By way of example, the fingers 200 may be supplied as a strip with thedosages thereon. The core 198 in this case has a spiral groove (notshown) in its side wall. The finger strip is then inserted in the spiralgroove. The core 198 is rotatable about two spindles (not shown) atopposite axial ends of the core.

The take-up reel 205 removes the sealing tape 204 over the dosages 202and fingers 200 as the dosages are rotated to a dispensing position 206at a given angular position relative to the core 198.

Means are at an angular position for displacing a finger along the axis,for example, a finger deflecting device 208 deflects the fingers 200 oneat a time after the selected finger is rotated to the dispensingposition 206. Such as deflecting device may be as shown in FIGS. 10 and11, for example. An apertured flat anvil 203 is fixed over and adjacentto the finger at position 206. As the core is rotated, the spiral pathof the fingers 200 containing a dosage to be dispensed displacesrelatively downwardly in axial direction 210 at position 206.

A guide 212 is connected to the finger deflecting device 208 representedby the dashed line 213 and slides in direction 210 in a channel in theinhaler housing (not shown). The guide axially positions the fingerdeflecting device as the selected dosage and finger relatively displaceaxially as the spiral is rotated. The guide 212 engages the springfingers at a location spaced from the deflecting device and associateddeflected finger. The guide 212 is positioned axially in direction 210as the fingers are rotated about axis 214. The guide 212 for example hasa slot (not shown) which receives the edges of the fingers as thefingers are rotated about axis 214. The fingers 200 hold the guide 212in the axial position. An axial channel (not shown) in the housing holdsthe guide in its annular position 206 about the axis 214.

In operation, a user rotates the core 198 to locate a dosage and itscorresponding carrier finger to the desired axial and angular positionrelative to axis 214 at angular position 206 of the deflecting device208. The sealing tape 204 is peeled free of the dosage as the core isrotated by take up reel 205. A detent device, e.g., a spring loaded ballattached to the housing (not shown) and a depression in the core 198corresponding to each finger 200 angular position about axis 214, mayprovide such a position for a manually rotatable core.

Manually operated finger 200 deflecting device 208 deflects the selecteddosage carrier finger 200 at position 206 downwardly direction 210. Whenthe displaced finger 200 is released it snaps back against the anvil 203carried by the device 208, releasing the selected dosage 202 in a mannerdescribed previously by momentum transfer. The released powder cloud isinhaled via mouthpiece 218.

The mouthpiece is schematically illustrated as having a verticalorientation along axis 214. In practice, the mouthpiece may behorizontal transverse to the axis 214. The mouthpiece may be coupled toa channel (not shown) in the housing interior side wall for flowing thereleased powder cloud to the mouthpiece at the edge of the spiralsubstrate fingers at position 206.

A fan and/or additional air flow paths for providing an auxiliary airflow to assist in exhausting the powder cloud during inhalation may alsobe provided as in FIG. 1 for this and the embodiments of FIGS. 14 and15. The reel 205 is also coupled to the guide 212 for displacementtherewith in the axial direction. A mouthpiece 211 receives thedischarged powdered dosage.

In FIG. 17, means for flexing a finger, for snap releasing a finger andfor imparting an energy pulse, for example, is shown in an embodimentsimilar to that of FIG. 16 employing a spiral dosage carrier substratewith resilient cantilevered fingers. In this embodiment all of theelements of FIG. 16 are utilized except that the dosage 202 areencapsulated at each finger 200′ by a discrete sealing cover sheet 215.The sealing cover sheet preferably has a pocket for receiving thedosage. In this case the take-up reel 205 of FIG. 16 is not utilized. Inits place, a device (not shown) peels back the discrete cover sheet 215′next prior to the deposition position 206′.

In FIGS. 18 and 18a, means for flexing a finger, for snap releasing afinger and for imparting an energy pulse, for example, is shown in afurther embodiment of an inhaler dispenser 218, which includes a housing(not shown) having a chamber for receiving a cartridge 200. Thecartridge 200 comprises a stack 222 of dosage packs 223. Each pack 223comprises a circular cylindrical (or other shapes) dosage wafer blistertype substrate 224. The substrates 224 each comprise a thermoplasticblister forming a pocket for the powdered dosage 228. The substrates maybe any conventional material, and preferably formed thermoplastic. Thepowdered medicament dosage 228 is deposited in the pocket of eachsubstrate 224 by any known process as discussed above.

The cartridge 220, which may be any convenient packaging for the packsis inserted into the inhaler chamber. During an index cycle, the leadpack 223′ is separated from the cartridge and stack by a dispensingdevice (not shown) and placed on the cantilevered dosage carrier leafspring 226 in a mating pocket 227 or aperture (not shown) in the spring226. A flat anvil 230, for example metal or plastic, has a dosagereceiving aperture 232. A mouthpiece 234 is adjacent to the aperture 232for receiving a powder cloud dosage.

An impact mechanism including a spring deflection drive (not shown) isat station 236 for deflecting the spring 226 and impacting the dosage228 and substrate 224 against the anvil 230 to impart the desired energypulse to release the dosage. The anvil 230 aperture 232 is smaller thanthe substrate so the dosage substrate will impact against the anvil whenthe spring is directed toward the anvil 230.

The deflection drive (not shown) selectively rotates and snap releasesthe spring 226. Drive 238 may be manual or electrically operated. Thereleased spring 226 impacts the deflected substrate 224′ against theanvil 230 on a side facing the spring 226 to release the dosage bymomentum transfer. The released dosage passes through the anvil aperture232 into the mouthpiece 234. The relative orientations and positions aregiven by way of illustration and may differ from that shown in a givenimplementation. After the dosage is released, the empty pack 223′substrate 224 is displaced to a storage location (not shown) by adisplacement device (not shown).

In FIGS. 19 and 19a, means for flexing a finger, for snap releasing afinger and for imparting an energy pulse, for example, is shown in afurther embodiment of a cartridge dispenser for stacked substrates whichincludes a cartridge 240 mounted in an inhaler chamber (not shown).Cartridge 240 is any convenient packaging for stacked substrates whichcomprises a stack 242 of separate substrate-dosage packs 241. Each pack241 comprises like discrete formed thermoplastic blister type substrates243 each having a dosage 246 receiving pocket 244. A medicament dosage246 is in each pocket. The dosages 246 are sealed by a discrete sealingcover 248 over each substrate 242 forming the completed pack 241.

A flat anvil 254 is adjacent to the mouthpiece 256. The anvil 254 has adosage receiving aperture 258. The anvil is secured fixed to the inhalerhousing (not shown) as in the prior embodiments discussed above herein.

Means are provided for selectively placing successive dosages and dosagesubstrates on a carrier such as during indexing, when the cover 248 isremoved from the substrate 243 by a device (not shown). The exposeddosage 246 and substrate 243 of the pack 241 are then placed in a pocket250 in dosage carrier spring 252 by a mechanism (not shown). Mouthpiece256 is at the dosage dispensing station. The spring 252 and carrieddosage are displaced by a deflection device (not shown) which deflectsthe spring to the position shown in the Figure with the substrate anddosage thereon. The displaced spring upon snap release by the deflectiondevice, will impact the anvil 254, and release the dosage 246 from thesubstrate 243. The substrate 243 is smaller than the aperture 258 in theanvil so that the anvil restrains the substrate upon impact. This actionprovides momentum transfer energy to the dosage which forms a powdercloud that is dispensed through the mouthpiece 256.

It will occur to one of ordinary skill that modifications may be made tothe disclosed embodiments without departing from the scope of theinvention as defined in the appended claims. The description givenherein is by way of illustration and not limitation. For example, theshape of the fingers and the particular actuating mechanisms are by wayof example. Numerous other actuating mechanisms may be provided forflexing a spring finger to impart an energy pulse to a dosage on asubstrate to transfer the dosage by momentum transfer forces.

What is claimed is:
 1. A medicament powder delivery device comprising: acarrier having at least a flexible portion including a dosage carrierfinger resiliently extending from a base region on which finger is adiscrete medicament dosage; and means for flexing the finger relative tothe base region and snap releasing the flexed finger relative to thebase region for imparting an energy pulse to the dosage for releasingthe dosage from the finger by momentum transfer.
 2. The device of claim1 including a body with a cavity for receiving the flexible portion andthe means for imparting, the device including an anvil with a boretherethrough fixed to the body in the cavity for impact receiving thesnap released finger, the bore for receiving said released dosage, andincluding means for causing said finger to resiliently impact said anvilto rapidly decelerate the finger to provide said momentum transfer tothe dosage.
 3. The device of claim 2 wherein said anvil including atleast one channel, further including means for creating an air jetstream through said at least one channel to disintegrate aggregations ofsaid dosage during said impact.
 4. The device of claim 1 wherein thefinger is corrugated.
 5. The device of claim 3 wherein the carrierfinger extends in a given direction from the base region, the fingerhaving corrugations extending along said direction.
 6. The device ofclaim 3 wherein the means for creating said jet stream includes afurther resilient finger overlying the carrier finger for initialresilient displacement coincident with initial displacement of thecarrier finger, said displaced fingers for snap release in a seconddisplacement, said further finger for creating said air jet streamduring said second displacement.
 7. The device of claim 6 wherein thefurther finger has a different relaxation time than the carrier fingerso as to accelerate slower than the carrier finger upon said snaprelease.
 8. The device of claim 1 wherein the carrier includes a firstdisc with a plurality of radially extending fingers, a dosage on eachfinger, and the means for imparting comprises cam means for snap flexinga selected finger to release the dosage on the selected finger.
 9. Thedevice of claim 8 including index means for indexing the selected fingerto a medicament release position for snap flexing the selected finger bysaid cam means.
 10. The device of claim 9 wherein the first discincludes a dosage carrier disc with a plurality of first fingers eachcarrying a dosage, a spacer disc overlying the carrier disc with aplurality of second fingers overlying and corresponding to the firstfingers and a ring with index holes and a third plurality of fingersover lying and corresponding to the first and second fingers, saidspacer disc being bonded to the carrier disc and ring, said indexingmeans for selectively engaging said ring index holes.
 11. The device ofclaim 10 wherein the cam means flexes the first and second fingers pastthe third fingers.
 12. The device of claim 1 wherein the carriercomprises a belt portion with a plurality of said fingers extendingtransversely from the belt portion, each said fingers having a separatedosage and arranged for selective resilient displacement relative tosaid belt portion.
 13. The device of claim 12 further including drivemeans for displacing said belt portion to increment said fingerssequentially to a dosage release position.
 14. The device of claim 12wherein the means for imparting includes a clamp for clamping the beltportion adjacent to a given finger and a deflecting member forselectively flexing and snap releasing the selected given flexed fingerrelative to the belt portion.
 15. The device of claim 1 wherein saidfinger is for receiving a dosage and dosage substrate from a pluralityof dosages and dosage substrates in a stack aligned one over another,further including means for selectively placing successive dosages anddosage substrates on said carrier, said means for imparting includingmeans for snap deflecting said finger against an anvil.
 16. The deviceof claim 1 wherein the carrier comprises an element having a pluralityof said fingers, said dosage comprising a dosage on each finger, saidmeans for flexing including a finger deflection member adjacent to saidelement for momentarily bending and deflecting a selected finger tomomentum transfer release a selected dosage from the finger upon releaseof the deflected finger.
 17. The device of claim 16 including means forselectively aligning successive dosages on said element to saiddeflection member.
 18. The device of claim 16 including a core memberrotatable about an axis, said element comprising an array of saidfingers radially extending from the core member about the core member ina spiral about said axis, said device including means for selectivelyaligning and deflecting each said finger to snap release a selecteddosage from the selected finger by said momentum transfer.
 19. Thedevice of claim 1 further including: a cartridge containing saidcarrier, said carrier comprising a plurality of said fingers; themedicament dosage comprising a dry powder in a discrete location on eachfinger; a housing for receiving the cartridge; and the means for flexingfor momentarily deflecting a selected finger to accelerate and rapidlydecelerate the selected finger for said imparting; the cartridgecomprising a cylindrical core member, said plurality of fingersextending radially from the cylindrical core member in a spiral array,said means for flexing including anvil means for said rapid decelerationof the selected flexed finger.
 20. The device of claim 19 wherein themeans for selectively deflecting includes a core member drive means forselectively rotating the core member about an axis to locate each fingerat a given angular and axial position about the axis and a fingerdeflecting device at said given position, said selectively deflectingmeans including means at said angular position for displacing the fingeralong said axis.
 21. A dry powder deliver device comprising: a cartridgecontaining at least one dosage carrier substrate; a dry powder in anarray of discrete locations on the at least one substrate; a housing forreceiving the cartridge; and means for momentarily deflecting thecarrier substrate to accelerate and rapidly decelerate the substrate tomomentum transfer and discharge the powder from the substrate at aselected location; the cartridge comprises a plurality of reels with thecarrier substrate suspended between the reels, the means for deflectingcomprising a cantilevered spring member for said momentarily deflectingthe carrier substrate between said reels and a fixed anvil for impactreceiving the deflected substrate.
 22. A dry powder delivery devicecomprising: a cartridge containing at least one dosage carriersubstrate; a dry powder in an array of discrete locations on the atleast one substrate; a housing for receiving the cartridge; and meansfor momentarily deflecting the carrier substrate to accelerate andrapidly decelerate the substrate to momentum transfer and discharge thepowder from the substrate at a selected location; the cartridgecomprising a disc having a plurality of radially outwardly extendingfingers, each finger having a dosage thereon and the means fordeflecting including means for selectively deflecting each said finger.23. A dry powder delivery device comprising: a cartridge containing atleast one dosage carrier substrate; a dry powder in an array of discretelocations on the at least one substrate; a housing for receiving thecartridge; and means for momentarily deflecting the carrier substrate toaccelerate and rapidly decelerate the substrate to momentum transfer anddischarge the powder from the substrate at a selected location; thecartridge comprising a stack of medicament dosages each on a discretesubstrate, a spring for receiving a selected dosage on a substrate fromthe stack, said means for deflecting for selectively deflecting eachsubstrate in a sequence.
 24. A dry powder delivery device comprising: acartridge containing at least one dosage carrier substrate; a dry powderin an array of discrete locations on the at least one substrate; ahousing for receiving the cartridge; and means for momentarilydeflecting the carrier substrate to accelerate and rapidly deceleratethe substrate to momentum transfer and discharge the powder from thesubstrate at a selected location; the cartridge comprising a memberhaving a base and a linear array of fingers extending from the base,each finger being flexible relative to the base and including amedicament powder dosage, said means for deflecting for selectivelydeflecting each finger in a sequence.
 25. The device of claim 24 whereinthe fingers are rectangular and parallel.
 26. The device of claim 24wherein the fingers are triangular and parallel.
 27. The device of claim24 wherein the at least one substrate has a plurality of depressionseach containing a separate powder dosage and a sealing tape bonded tothe substrate over the depressions and spaced from the dosages.